Daily News | 20th March 2018

Booming Start to Gold Coast March Sale

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Records tumbled on Day One of the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale yesterday as the progeny of Australia’s first season sire sensation Spirit of Boom lit up the sale ring. A graduate of the 2009 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Spirit of Boom has made an incredible start to his stud career and the demand for his stock helped return record figures. All 21 of the Spirit of Boom yearlings offered were sold and 19 of them were among the 23 top sellers on the day. Five yearlings by the Eureka Stud-based sire were sold for $200,000 or more, highlighted by the record-breaking filly from Regal Tier (Lot 141) who was knocked down to local trainer John Morrisey for $250,000 - the highest priced lot ever in the history of the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale. "She’s a nice, big filly," Morrisey said. "She had a bit more size than the others and the greys are the better horses in that family." Other buyers to snap up progeny of Spirit Of Boom included Steve Morley partnering with Kitchwin Hills, James Harron Bloodstock, Gai Waterhouse, and Brad Spicer teaming up with Ciaron Maher and Brae Sokolski.

MM March Sale Day-1: Review

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

More than $6 million was traded on 139 lots sold at yesterday's opening session of the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. Day one returned an average price of $43,399 while the clearance rate came in at 77 per cent. The gross was up $2 million on the corresponding day last year while the average price soared 45 per cent on Day One in 2017. "It was a sensational day. From the opening lot there was a great vibe around the grounds," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "Spirit of Boom is averaging close to $135,000. We had five horses sell for $200,000 or more and we’d never had a horse here get to $200,000, so for five to break the record was great for the sire." Bowditch added: "We’d like to see the clearance rate climb overnight and tomorrow [Tuesday]. It took a while for the vendors to find their feet in the market but all in all the results were very pleasing." Day Two of the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale will commence today at 10am (Qld time).

Bowman Cleared To Ride Winx

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Hugh Bowman is free to ride Winx in Saturday's $1 million Gr1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill after passing an after-injury cognitive test yesterday, reports racingnsw.com.au. The champion jockey is also expected to reunite with talented 2YO Performer in the $3.5 million Gr1 Golden Slipper (1200m). The Chris Waller-trained colt was the horse responsible for causing Bowman's concussion when he dislodged him in the Gr2 Todman Stakes at Randwick ten days ago. "I am looking forward to it, believe it or not," Bowman said of jumping back aboard Performer. "It seems to be a freak thing. He's obviously reacted to something but he's trialled well since so we will get on with it." He added: "I don't feel I could have ridden last weekend but having had a good week's rest I'm feeling much better. You've only got one head, don't you, the brain's an important part and I had a significant concussion."

Winx (image: Steve Hart)

Ten Entered To Take On Winx

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Superstar mare Winx headlines a field of eleven horses nominated for Saturday's Gr1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. The George Ryder is shaping as an intriguing race with the likes of star colt Kementari, dual Gr1 winner Happy Clapper, and Winx's highly promising younger stable-mate D'Argento set to contest the $1 million weight-for-age feature. The Chris Waller-trained Winx surpassed Black Caviar in setting a new Australian record of 16 Group 1 victories when she opened her autumn campaign with an effortless 7 length win in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick two weeks ago. She will be chasing her 24th consecutive victory in the George Ryder, after which connections will decide whether or not to embark on an international campaign aimed at Royal Ascot. Click here to view Rosehill nominations.

Cloud Hangs Over Chautauqua

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

The immediate future of Chautauqua is in serious doubt after the star sprinter stayed in the gates at yesterday's barrier trials at Cranbourne. It is the fourth time this campaign that the 6-time Group 1 winner has refused to jump from the stalls when preparing to trial, raising genuine concerns that he has lost his enthusiasm for racing. Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes had indicated prior to the trial that another poor showing from the 8YO would see him sent to the spelling paddock. Connections were hoping that Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago-Lovely Jubly, by Lion Hunter) could prove his fitness in time for a shot at an historic fourth Gr1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) title at Randwick on 7 April.

Aloisia Pleases in Trial

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Trainer Aaron Purcell confirmed Aloisia was on track for Saturday week's $500,000 Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill after trialling well at Cranbourne yesterday. Last season's Gr1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner closed off strongly in her 1190m heat to finish fourth behind Observational in 1:15.06. She was last seen finishing 13th behind Grunt in the Gr1 Australian Guineas after suffering interference in running. "She came here [Cranbourne] for a good piece of work. It had been a few weeks between runs and we wanted to give her a good hit-out and get her away from home," Purcell told racenet. "She hit the line really strongly and has pulled up terrific. I'd say she's definitely on track for a big run in a couple of weeks." Purcell added: "We're expecting her to go very close in the Vinery and all being well, she's nominated for the Australian Oaks but we'll wait and see after the Vinery."

Aloisia (image: Mark Gatt)

Vlahos Fights Betting Charges

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Disgraced racing identity Bill Vlahos pleaded not guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday to 349 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception in connection with his collapsed betting syndicate, The Edge, reports AAP. Vlahos is accused of defrauding investors out of $128 million from 2008 to when the punting club collapsed in December 2013. "I find the evidence is of sufficient weight to support a conviction for each of those charges," magistrate Donna Bakos told the court. Vlahos will face the County Court for a directions hearing on Tuesday.

Snapshot of South Island Success

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Continuing on from the hype of Karaka 2018, the National Yearling Sales Series heads south with the South Island Sale set to offer a solid second round of pedigree on Friday 20 April. In recent years, the sale has delivered racetrack stars and has become known as a source of affordable horses with buyers experiencing a fast track to success. In the last five seasons the sale has produced five individual Group winners and 15 individual stakes winners, including:

Signify - Gr1 Telegraph Handicap

Blood Brotha - Gr2 Wellington Cup

Shadows Cast - Gr2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile

Capone - Gr3 Taranaki Cup

Natuzzi - Gr3 Concorde Handicap

Civil Disobedience - Tasmanian Derby

Parthesia - Bagot Handicap

The sale will be held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch with 121 horses catalogued, including 120 yearlings and one unraced gelding. There are a total of 28 vendors offering drafts this year with the progeny from a range of 44 sires. Click here for more information.

Charles Road Eyeing Championships

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Well performed Kiwi stayer Charles Road is set to make his Australian debut at The Championships in Sydney. Placed in the Gr2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year's Day, Charles Road (Myboycharlie-Giant Mystique, by Giant's Causeway) won the Gr3 City of Auckland Cup (2400m) before finishing sixth in the Gr1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at his most recent outing. He was less than 1.5 lengths from the winner Ladies First in the Ellerslie feature. "We were pleased with his performance and he's just had a bit of a quiet time since and a freshen-up has done him the world of good," said Andrew Scott, who prepares the 4YO with Lance O'Sullivan. "If he comes through the next couple of weeks well we're going to take him to Sydney. He'll run in the Chairman's and all going well into the Sydney Cup." The Gr2 Chairman's Handicap (2600m) will be run at Randwick on 7 April with the $2 million Gr1 Sydney Cup (3200m) a week later.

Gold Cup Next for Paddy

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Evergreen Kiwi galloper Authentic Paddy (Howbaddouwantit-Authentic Cross, by Cape Cross) will make his next appearance in a set weights and penalties feature on his home track at the end of the month, reports NZ Racing Desk. "He's doing well and he'll go to the Awapuni Gold Cup. There's not a lot else for him," trainer Lisa Latta said. The 8YO claimed his maiden Gr1 success in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and bounced back from three unplaced runs for a last-start third in the Gr1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). "He had a few wide draws and a foot problem but he's good now," Latta said.

Australian Sires Premiership Update

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

After thirty three weeks of the 2017-18 racing season, Arrowfield Stud's incumbent Champion Australian Sire Snitzel continues to be in a league of his own on top of the sires leader board with all-time Australian record progeny earnings of over $19 million. Occupying second position is Coolmore's ill-fated High Chaparral, who made a major move up the leader board after the wins of Rekindling in the Melbourne Cup and Ace High in the Victoria Derby in the spring, with $10.5 million, while Yarraman Park's high-profile sire I Am Invincible rounds out the top three. According to arion.co.nz, the Top 10 ranked stallions in Australia (as of 19 March) are:

Champion Kiwi Mare to Visit War Front

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Leviathan US owner and breeder Barbara Banke has revealed her mating plans for former champion New Zealand sprinter Bounding, reports Racing Post. Banke's Stonestreet Stables purchased the daughter of Lonhro for $1.9 million at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from the draft of Willow Park Stud. Banke said she wanted to take full advantage of Bounding's speed and so has chosen North America's best son of the legendary Danzig. "We imported Bounding ahead of the 2016 northern hemisphere season and she is expecting her first foal by Curlin," Banke said. "Physically, she's flawless, and we are looking for a fast, precocious two-year-old so she will visit War Front." Crowned Champion Sprinter of New Zealand & Champion 3YO Filly, Bounding (Lonhro-Believe'n'succeed, by Exceed and Excel) won 8 of her 19 starts highlighted by the 2014 Gr1 Railway Handicap at Ellerslie. She became the first filly in 33 years to win the time honoured feature. Bounding's dam Believe'n'succeed won a Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude before retiring to stud and is a full sister to Gr2 winner Kuroshio. This is also the female family of US Gr1 winner November Snow (Storm Cat).

Poet's Voice Dead

Tuesday, 20th March 2018

Darley stallion Poet's Voice has died at the age of 11 after suffering a fatal heart attack on Saturday at Dalham Hall Stud in the UK. A winner of the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, Poet's Voice (Dubawi-Bright Tiara, by Chief's Crown) has hitherto sired 13 individual stakes winners including Poet's Word, winner of the Gr3 Glorious Stakes and runner up in both the Gr1 British and Irish Champion Stakes, Gr2 ATC Roman Consul Stakes winner Viridine, Gr3 winner Poet's Vanity, Australian Listed winning filly My Country, and highly promising WA stayer and multiple stakes winner Trap For Fools. Saeed bin Suroor, who trained Poet's Voice, said: "I am very sad to hear of the death of Poet's Voice and my condolences go to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and everyone connected to him at Darley. He was a pleasure to train, always relaxed in his work and gave his best throughout his career. His victory in the QEII Stakes was very special indeed."